From Reductionism to Creativity: Rdzogs-Chen and the New Sciences of Mind (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781570626418)

Writing in the language of the new sciences, Herbert Guenther traces the evolution of Buddhist views on cognition and points to their relevance in the contemporary world. The history of Buddhist thought is a unique example of the interplay between reductionism and creativity, between conservatism and innovation, and it is the author's purpose to examine the interaction between these complementary movements. Of decisive importance in this context is the idea of "mind," which Buddhism recognized early on as a process rather than a thing. This recognition marked the transition from structure-oriented thinking to a vigorous process-oriented thinking, which climaxed in the holistic movement known as rDzogs-chen. Based on original texts in the Pali, Tibetan, and Sanskrit languages, the book develops the Buddhist ideas out of the context in which they originated.

Author: Herbert V. Guenther
ISBN-10: 1570626413
ISBN-13: 9781570626418
Publisher: Shambhala
Language: English
Published: 05/01/2001
Pages: 328
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.02w x 0.84d